The Shootist.

The Shootist' True Identity Shocks Barbara.

I had to beg Bruce to bring Shootist with us back to the batcave. Bruce wanted to leave him behind for the police and face the consequences of his actions. I dragged him to the batmobile and laid him in the backseat or what passes as a backseat in this vehicle and started checking his wounds. I even grabbed his revolver that was barely an inch or two from his hand before I dragged him to the batmobile.
"Bruce we need to get him back to the batcave as soon as we can." I told him.

It took less than ten to twenty minutes to get to the batcave. Dick approached the batmobile when he noticed we had a gunshot victim with us. He picked the Shootist up and carried him to a bare steel table and Alfred got the medkit. We peeled Shootist out of his jacket, hat, shirt but when I untied the bandana and took it off. I was shocked as to who the Shootist actually was.

(Daniel's POV)
I woke up, surrounded by light and blinked a few hundred times trying to adjust to the light. I found myself strapped to a hospital bed. Then I heard an English accent say, "Finally. Your awake Master Boyce." I followed the sound of the voice to my left and saw a bespeckled, dark grey with streaks of light grey haired man who was smiling at me.
"Where am I?"
"Safe for now." He smiled checking the heart monitors and IV's.
"How long was I out?"
"Two days, Master Boyce."
"Two days." I looked around. And tipped my head to the side a moment and said, "I guess it could be worse."
"Very true."
"How do you know my name?"
"Miss Gordon told me."
'Shit. Barbara must be so angry with me right now.'
"By the way, I'm Alfred Pennyworth."
"Nice to meet you Alfred."
"Same here, Master Boyce."
"And please call me Daniel, Dan or Danny no mister, master or sir please."
"As you wish Daniel."
"Thank you. Where's Barbara?"
"Up stairs."
"Anyone else know my true identity?"
"Master Grayson and Master Wayne."
"Well, when it rains it pours." I say making Alfred smile.
"I must say Daniel. You have incredible accuracy with the revolvers. And seem to be even more dangerous with your bare hands." He said.
"Thank you I think." I reply confused.
"I think you'd make a good adittion to The Bat Family."
"The Bat Family?"
"Yes. The Bat Family." Bruces voice boomed as I shot a glance in the direction of his voice. He came into view in front of me.
"Bruce."
"Daniel. Or should I call you Shootist?" He asked angrily.
"Master Wayne. Might I suggest you wait until he's a little more healed before you start in on him?" Alfred asked him. Bruce just ignored him.
"I knew, that you were the Shootist. You are nothing but a glorified murderer. I've dealt with people like you before. Thinking that bullets and blood are the only way to get true justice than doing things by the book and let the law do its job."
I just started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"The law. That's a gasser. 'Do things by the book and let the law do it's job.' Ha, ha, ha. How delusional are you Bruce. There are no laws anymore. In case you haven't noticed. It's the wild west out there. Every man for himself, blood for blood, eye for an eye and all that jazz. And your a fine one to be lecturing me on being a glorified murderer. When Dick Graysons family were killed at the circus before their final act. Just how hard did you try to reach them? Hmm? Or Jason Todd, who I know is still alive. But I have to wonder, how much effort did you put into finding him?" I could tell Bruce was getting angry. "Come on let's hear the answer." After a few minutes of silence I added, "Don't judge people for things that you yourself have done." Bruce lost his cool and started wailing on me. Dick came running downstairs as did Barbara and they barely were able to pull him off me. "Ha, ha, ha, ha. See. You may act tough and hard but on the inside your just like everyone else. Capable of snapping at a moments notice. So don't you dare call me a glorified murderer unless you plan on adding yourself to that list." Alfrend undid the straps holding my arms and legs. Then went to work on patching me up from the beating Bruce gave me. "In my opinion. The only law. Is Gordon and the law of the old west." Barbara approached me as Dick held Bruce back.
"Daniel, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me that you were the Shootist?"
"I wasn't sure as to how you'd react." I told her honestly.
"You still could have told me."
"I know. I'm sorry Barb honey." I started to feel depressed and sad and once Alfred was done patching me up. Barbara walked around the bed and I looked her in the eye. "I don't deserve you." I said. "Your everything that I want in a woman. But since I lied to you. I don't feel I even deserve you. So once I get home. I'm closing up shop and moving to somewhere else." I slowly slid off the bed after sittingup.
"Running away from her." Bruce started.
"Master Wayne. That's enough." Alfred said.
Barbara approached me as I slowly got dressed. every time I moved I felt pain from the belly wound but I blocked out the pain long enough to get my clothes on. "Daniel." I looked at Barbara. "Do you really love me?"
"Of course I do." I told her nearly sobbing as tears started to run down my cheeks. "But I just don't feel I deserve a woman like you. Sweet, beautiful, smart and like me has a love for the great classic auritors. Like Winston Churchill."
"Daniel. I never in our short time together. Gave you any reason to doubt me. I never thought any less of you. In fact when I was late for our date for my birthday. I was surprised to see you still waiting at the restaruant for my arrival. You made me a beautiful revolver for me for my birthday. You listened to my complaints and grievances the night when my date backed out last minute. You have done all these things for me. And yet I feel I haven't done enough for you." I put my hat on. And a second later she pulled it off and tossed it on the bed. "I don't want you to go." I looked down at the ground. "I don't want you to leave Gotham City." Alfred, Dick and Bruce left us alone.
"Barbara. You don't want someone like me as your boyfriend or husband. I'm a ticking time bomb. One wrong move or word from anyone and they can all end up dead. Including you. And if you ended up dying by my hand. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. At all."
"Daniel." She wrapped her arms around my neck and just out of pure instinct I wrapped my arms around her batsuited waist. "I'm not going to give up on you. Or us. Please. Stay. Here. In Gotham City. With me." I looked her in the eye and she slowly started smiling and my face slowly matched hers. Pretty soon a wide grin was on my face.
"Okay, Barbara Honey. I'll stay." She squealed with delight and jumped up causing me to tighten my arms around her thighs and I slowly opened my arms making her slide down my chest and stomach and when her face was at the same level as mine I kissed her. Our kiss lasted about four minutes.
We pulled away from each other when we heard, "So. I take it that Daniel is staying Miss Gordon?" Alfred asked.
"Yes, Alfred. My Peacemaker is staying in Gotham with me." Barbara said smiling.
"Excellent." Dick then approached me and Barbara.
"Welcome to Gotham, Daniel." He smiled.
We all looked to Bruce and I let go of Barbara and turned to face him. He stood before me and before he said anything. I slugged him with a huge left hook that knocked a tooth out. He stood back up and held a hand to his now bleeding mouth. "Okay, okay. I deserve that." He said.
"Actually you deserve worse. But I'm choosing the high road because of Barbara."
"Noted." He said spitting blood and holding his fingers on his right hand to his lips.
"Come on, baby. Let's go to my place. I'm sure you could use a nice comfortable bed to sleep in." Barbara smiled.
"Well, sounds good to me Barb."
She changed into her civies and I picked up my hat from the bed and when I approached Barbara I put the hat on her head and she and I walked out to her car arm in arm and her laying her head against my right shoulder.

"Master Bruce."
"Yes, Alfred?"
"I hope you know that Daniel nearly turned down Miss Gordon's offer or request rather to stay. And I think the reason he nearly left was because of your little problem with him."
"And calling him a glorified murderer was way too far." Dick added.
"Well, I guess I could make it up to him by inviting him to be part of the Bat Family."
"You guess, Master Wayne."
"Okay. When Barbara brings him back over here for a follow up examination. I'll make the offer." Alfred and Dick smiled and nodded.
"You see, it's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks."

(Barbara's POV)
When Daniel and I reached my home. We got changed into some sleep attire and got in bed. We moved around a bit until we found a comfortable position and fell asleep. With my head on his chest and his arm wrapped around me.